For the first time, research conducted by the University of Pisa, recently published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, has examined the impact of various concentrations of ibuprofen—a widely used anti-inflammatory drug during the Covid-19 pandemic—on marine angiosperms, or seagrasses.

“Marine angiosperms play crucial ecological roles and provide important ecosystem services. For example, they protect coastlines from erosion, store carbon, produce oxygen, support biodiversity, and serve as nurseries for numerous animal species,” explains Professor Elena Balestri from the Department of Biology at the University of Pisa.

The research focused specifically on Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson, a species that grows in shallow coastal areas, often near river mouths—regions frequently contaminated by pollutants, including pharmaceuticals.

The study was conducted in mesocosms where the plants were exposed for 12 days to ibuprofen concentrations found in Mediterranean coastal waters. Results showed that at concentrations of 0.25 and 2.5 micrograms per liter, the drug caused oxidative stress but no irreversible damage to the plants. However, at a concentration of 25 micrograms per liter, cell membranes and photosynthetic systems were damaged, compromising the plants’ resilience to environmental stressors.

“This is the first study to examine the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on marine plants,” says Elena Balestri. “Currently, it is estimated that global ibuprofen consumption exceeds 10,000 tons annually, and this is expected to increase in the future. Since current wastewater treatment systems are unable to completely remove it, environmental contamination will likely grow as well.”

“To reduce the risk of further regression of seagrass meadows, which is already occurring in many coastal areas,” concludes Balestri, “it will be necessary to develop new technologies capable of limiting the release of ibuprofen and other pharmaceuticals into natural habitats, establish threshold concentrations for this contaminant in waterways, and determine tolerance limits not only for animals but also for plants.”